Name:     ID: 
 
Email: 

USG Chapter 5 test: Organization of Congress

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Write the answer letter in the blank to the left of the question.
 

 1. 
The United States Congress, which is made up of two houses, is a __________________
a.
bi-session legislature.
c.
bicameral legislature.
b.
constitutional legislature.
d.
reform legislature.
 

 2. 
This is NOT a qualification for election to the Senate.
a.
at least 30 years old
c.
married for 5 years
b.
legal resident of state of election
d.
a citizen for 9 years
 

 3. 
In Congress the majority and minority leaders are assisted by _____________
a.
whips.
c.
the president.
b.
the vice president.
d.
the Speaker.
 

 4. 
In the Senate bills are brought to the floor by ____________________
a.
the Speaker.
c.
unanimous consent.
b.
formal rules.
d.
the vice president.
 

 5. 
The standing committees of each house are controlled by ______________
a.
the majority party.
c.
the minority party.
b.
the minority leader.
d.
the majority leader.
 

 6. 
This is NOT a qualification for election to the House of Representatives.
a.
at least 25 years old
c.
legal resident of state of election
b.
a citizen for 7 years
d.
a degree in law
 

 7. 
People in districts represented in Congress are called ____________
a.
a caucus.
c.
constituents.
b.
a quorum.
d.
a census.
 

 8. 
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the ______________
a.
Speaker.
c.
vice president.
b.
majority leader.
d.
majority whip.
 

 9. 
The president (presiding officer) of the Senate is the _______________
a.
majority leader of the Senate.
c.
Vice President of the United States.
b.
Speaker.
d.
minority leader of the Senate.
 

 10. 
A filibuster can be stopped when three-fifths of the Senate votes for _______
a.
cloture.
c.
a quorum.
b.
a census.
d.
censure.
 

 11. 
The power to write the rules in Congress is controlled by the ____________
a.
majority party.
c.
Speaker.
b.
minority party.
d.
vice president.
 
 
Congressional Apportionment, 2000

nar001-1.jpg
 

 12. 
How many states gained seats in the House of Representatives after the 2000 redistricting?
a.
7
c.
6
b.
9
d.
8
 

 13. 
Which state has the most seats in the House of Representatives?
a.
Michigan
c.
California
b.
Pennsylvania
d.
Texas
 

 14. 
How many states lost seats in the House of Representatives after the 2000 redistricting?
a.
10
c.
11
b.
9
d.
12
 
 
nar003-1.jpg
 

 15. 
Which state currently has the greatest number of congressional representatives?
a.
Texas
c.
California
b.
New York
d.
Pennsylvania
 

 16. 
Which two states appear on all three lists?
a.
Pennsylvania and Ohio
c.
Ohio and Texas
b.
New York and Texas
d.
New York and Pennsylvania
 
 
Swings in Control of Congress
nar002-1.jpg
 

 17. 
During which time period did Democrats have the greatest hold on the Senate?
a.
1965–1967
c.
2003–2005
b.
1921–1923
d.
1937–1939
 

 18. 
During what period did Republicans hold the most seats in the House of Representatives?
a.
1921–1923
c.
1947–1949
b.
1999–2001
d.
1937–1939
 
 
Committtee Structure of Congress
nar004-1.jpg
 

 19. 
Which committee works to adapt House and Senate versions of bills?
a.
Select
c.
Conference
b.
Joint
d.
Standing
 

 20. 
Which committee serves as a study group?
a.
Select
c.
Standing
b.
Conference
d.
Joint
 
 
“The Rules Committee is an agent of the leadership. It is what distinguishes us from the Senate, where the rules deliberately favor those who would delay. The rules of the House . . . permit a majority to work its will on legislation rather than allow it to be bottled up and stymied.”
—Speaker Jim Wright, 1987
 

 21. 
To what government body does the author of the passage belong?
a.
Attorney General’s Office
c.
the Senate
b.
Supreme Court
d.
the House Rules Committee
 

 22. 
According to Speaker Jim Wright, which governmental body takes too long to make decisions or take action?
a.
Senate
c.
Rules Committee
b.
Attorney General’s Office
d.
Supreme Court
 

 23. 
Identify the key committees of the Senate.

I. Foreign Relations
II. Appropriations
III. _____________
a.
Rules
c.
Select Intelligence
b.
Ways and Means
d.
Finance
 

 24. 
Identify the person in the House of Representatives who fulfills these responsibilities:

I. Schedules bills for action
II. Refers bills to the proper committee
III. Appoints some committee members
a.
deputy whip
c.
majority leader
b.
minority whip
d.
Speaker of the House
 

Matching
 
 
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a.
as a bill
e.
Foreign Relations
b.
Social Security
f.
Ways and Means
c.
start of each term of Congress
g.
2 years
d.
legislative assistant
h.
6 years
 

 25. 

 Representatives' term
 

 26. 

 Senators' term
 

 27. 

 the way every law starts
 

 28. 

 prestigious (important) Senate committee
 

 29. 

 key (important) House committee
 

Open-ended questions: Choose 2 of the short answer questions.  Each answer must include a topic sentence.  Support it with at least 2 facts. (5 points each)
 

 30. 
Compare the organization of the leadership of the House of Representatives with the organization of the Senate.  How does this form of leadership organization lead to differences in the way the Senate and the House process bills into laws?
 

 31. 
How does the use of a filibuster threaten the principles of unlimited debate and majority rule in the Senate?  Be sure to explain filibuster and cloture.
 

 32. 
How does the existence of committees in the House and Senate enable Congress to work more efficiently?  Explain the functions of the different kinds of committees.
 

 33. 
Explain why the House might be considered more representative of the people than the Senate.  Support the statement that the House is the “people’s house” with facts about elections, organization and qualifactions and term length.
 



 
         Start Over